11/07/2017

Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak has congratulated Akhunzada Irfanullah Shah former PK-1 candidate and Ameer of JUI(F), for joining Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf. He said that people usually did not risk joining a ruling party in its last stage of tenure rather keeps aloof of it. Unlike to this tradition, he contended, political activists from other parties have started in bulk joining PTI which is ample proof its outstanding four years performance. He asserted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has marched ahead on road to progress and prosperity during its short span of government as compared to all the previous regimes. He said people were feeling the change being brought about in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He regretted that our critics did not like reforms and hence they could not see any change over here. “Nobody except Imran Khan has the courage to chase the thieves and plunderers. New and transparent Pakistan is linked with Supreme Court decision of Panama leaks. Corruption will become unbridled practice if the involved thieves were not arrested and punished accordingly”, he added.
He was addressing press Conference at CM House Peshawar. On this occasion JUI-F stalwart and candidate from provincial constituency PK-1 Akhunzada Irfanullah Shah along with his friends and supporters formally announced joining Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf by quitting from his old party due to policy differences. He said the Jehad against corruption and bringing transparency in the government machinery under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak motivated him and hundreds of his companions for such bold decision. He said Imran Khan has become a ray of hope for the entire nation because the traditional politicians have totally disappointed the people especially the poor who miserably failed to deliver to the masses properly. Provincial Minister for Information and spokesman of KP government Shah Farman Khan and other political leaders were also present.
Pervez Khattak said that the spirit of Irfanullah Shah was laudable and such prudent decisions always bear fruits in the long run. He while referring to the increasing popularity of PTI said that history of this province was testimony to that fact that no political party again came back at the helm of affairs over here because the rulers did not honour the election promises and manifesto of their parties anyhow. He further regretted that the past politicians formed governments with the slogans of Islam, Pakhtoon or Roti, Kapra and Makan but in-fact they served neither Islam nor Pakhtoons. Instead the previous regimes left no stone unturned to plunder the government exchequer with both hands and only gave lip services to the masses instead, he added.
The Chief Minister affirmed that PTI was the only political party that cent percent honoured its manifesto. He said the candid steps undertaken by KP government were bearing fruits then but our opponents could not see it because they had nothing to do with reforms, stability of institutions and supremacy of merit and law. He deplored that the past rulers just came in power for lust of wealth. He said our reforms and decisions mattered for those who were associated with it. He said people were the best judge of reforms being brought about in education, health, police and so many other sectors.
Pervez Khattak said that his provincial government practically deliver to the masses during short period of four years. He said that our government did not auctioned jobs and contracts of projects. He said that past regimes had no match with our present government in any respect. He proclaimed that PTI would contest the 2018 general elections and would teach a lesson to the opponents to the extent that they would have no other option but to quit politics. He asked the opponents not to boast too much and if they did not see any change then ask from the lay men who would tell them better.
In response to a question about panama leaks, the Chief Minister said that it was important juncture of the history of Pakistan. He said the body search of thieves was not that easy but Imran Khan made tireless struggle to achieve this task. He said that future of the motherland would be bright if the decision of apex court came against the plunderers in Panama papers but corruption would become coin of the day if thieves got scot free. He said that it was shame for such thieves that they hurled baseless allegations on Imran Khan but the nation already knew that Imran Khan and KP government has presented themselves for accountability from the very beginning and hence such revengeful tactics of the ruling family would fail in the long run.
Pervez Khattak while responding to the allegations of Amir Muqam said that Imran Khan did not receive or recommend any contract to any individual in the province but it was a shame for amir Muqam who still sought contracts of developmental projects in sheer conflict of interests. “This gentleman must not boast much higher than his own stature and also must see into his spot-full past”, he added. The Chief Minister said performance of KP government was crystal clear. Even the facts and figures in surveys of 2013-14 and 2015-16 released by the federal bureau of statistics revealed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa excelled other provinces in the efforts for alleviation of poverty and increase in employment prospects. He said the poverty ratio in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was 23.86% in 2013-14 that came down to 12.27% in 2015-16. Contrary to this fact he said the graph of poverty shot up in Punjab and Sindh, he revealed, and added that the poverty ratio increased in Punjab from 15.43% to 19.62% and in Sindh from 18.35% to 23.41% during this period. He said that even the job opportunities increased in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 2.04% to 2.18% contrary to that of Punjab and Sindh where it were decreased from 1.66% to 1.59% and from 1.96% to 1.89% respectively. He said that even other national and international organizations acknowledged the outstanding performance of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against all other provinces.
The Chief Minister in response to criticism on Billion Tree Tsunami made clear that the critics of this vital and beneficial scheme were infact blind who lied against the bare facts. He said that under this project 5600 sites were covered wherein 4000 sites were selected for natural tree plantation while 1600 sites were chosen for man driven tree plantation campaigns wherein 4000 local volunteers were engaged for this task and all the targets thus achieved. He said that all its details were uploaded on the website of Billion Tree Tsunami and any critic could visit and see the facts on this site. He asked the opponents that how the standing forests were destroyed in the name of the windfall in the past. He said that his provincial government came to the rescue to stop the malicious practice of illicit cutting and destruction of timber under the lame excuse of windfall. He further made clear that even dry trees were beneficial for forestry in both shape of standing or fallen conditions but the thieves stole it from forests in name of windfall, threatening the environmental health of the country and the world at large.
Pervez Khattak on a query about examination results said that it must be understood that some steps were meant for the present whose results appear immediately but some other things were for the future that yield results in the coming times. He said his provincial government raised standard of the public schools and its results would appear with passage of time. He said the introduction of English at primary level would give its positive results in the coming six years that would enable our youth whether belonging to rich or poor families to get through competitive exams as well. Replying to a question about award of tickets to contesting candidates in the coming general elections, Pervez Khattak said that it would be given purely on merit basis.
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